Industry veteran Don Chutter, formerly of Revay and Associates Ltd., came out of retirement 12 years ago to serve as executive director of the General Contractors Association of Ottawa (GCAO). He was awarded a honourary life membership in the association after a lengthy career at the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) and Revay and Associates Ltd.
“Under his guidance, and thanks to his vision, this association has grown both structurally and professionally,” said retiring association president Hubie Splinter, vice-president of Graebeck Construction Ltd.
The award recognizes service and dedication to the association.
Splinter said Chutter, who joined the GCAO after a lengthy career at the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) and Revay and Associates Ltd., has contributed not only to the GCAO but the local construction industry as a whole.
At the GCAO, Chutter played an instrumental role in the growth of the building industry liaison, designers, contractors and owners (BILDCO) committee, Splinter said.
Under Chutter’s direction, the committee grew to include representatives of the Building Owners and Managers Association, Consulting Engineers of Ontario and the International Facilities Management Association in addition to original members GCAO and the Ottawa Regional Society of Architects.
“Today, BILDCO meets regularly to focus on particular situations or issues of interest that affect the local industry,” Splinter said.
Chutter, who recently retired from the GCAO, also played a key role in the activation of the association’s integrity and ethics award. The award, presented annually, now is recognized as one of the local industry’s top honours. In addition, Splinter said Chutter was the “driving force” behind a comprehensive review of the association’s bylaws, policies and statements of duty.
“Thanks in part to Don, these documents are kept as current and up-to-date as possible,” he said.
“And in turn, they ensure that the GCAO runs as efficiently as possible.”
Chutter, also a honourary life member of both the CCA and the Ottawa Construction Association, recalled that he was invited in late 1998 after retiring from Revay and Associates “to spend a year helping make the GCAO more professional.
“This one year somehow got extended to 11 more,” he said.
Chutter, who arrived in Ottawa in 1946 after earning a master’s degree in business administration “thanks to Veterans Affairs,” initially was hired by the CCA to assist in the labour relations, economics and statistics realm.
He ultimately served as general manager for 22 years before becoming Ottawa bureau chief and branch manager at Revay.
“I have been continuously associated with construction leaders as my employers, members or clients,” he said.
“I have always been impressed by their drive and accomplishments in being in the fullest sense, the builders of Canada.”
In 2009, Chutter was awarded the Jock Tindale Memorial Award from the Ontario General Contractors Association.
That award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a high standard of ethics and integrity in dealings with industry participants.
He received the GCAO award at the association’s recent annual meeting.
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